Post/Author/DateTime

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Lilt 01-11-07, 03:37 PM

I'm trying to think of some more uses for the Aversion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/aversion.htm) psionic power in the XPH/SRD. Here's the text from the SRD: Aversion (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/powers/aversion.htm) Telepathy (Compulsion) [Mind-Affecting] Level: Telepath 2 Display: Auditory and material Manifesting Time: 1 standard action Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Target: One creature Duration: 1 hour/level Saving Throw: Will negates Power Resistance: Yes Power Points: 3 You plant a powerful aversion in the mind of the subject. If the object of the implanted aversion is an individual or a physical object, she will prefer not to approach within 30 feet of it. If it is a word, she will try not to utter it; if it is an action, she will not willingly attempt to perform it; and if it is an event, she will not willingly attend it. The subject will take reasonable steps to avoid the object of its aversion, but will not put herself in jeopardy by doing so. If the subject is forced into taking an action she has an aversion to, she takes a -2 penalty on any attack rolls, ability checks, or skill checks involved. Augment For every 2 additional power points you spend, this power’s save DC increases by 1 and the duration increases by 1 hour.Now, even if this may not be everyone's first choice power, it's granted as a 1/day psi-like by the phrenic template (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/psionic/monsters/phrenicCreature.htm). I'm sure it can have useful effects though, perhaps with multiple applications or very carefully chosen aversions. Essentially, I'm wanting to think of some good uses for this power. I'm wanting ones that aren't going to be gotten around too easily, or ones that if the subject does choose to go against it. There are a few obvious ones, like giving people aversions to key aspects of their particular fighting styles, but that's not really taking full advantage of the spell's long duration. Long duration ones are less likely to work, however, as the character might be somewhat cunning about things and attempt to get the effect suppressed temporarily (or simply telling someone and the other person forcing the averted character to take the action). One good plan is to make aversions that are partially self-sustaining in that they discourage people from seeking help... Perhaps an aversion to the town/party cleric? This is particularly good for the sort of people that it's hard to restrain or force to do something, like Frenzied Berzerkers. Of course the problem is that the aversion isn't concrete, they can ignore it at minor penalties if doing so might put them at jeapordy. I suppose you could always use the skill penalties, however, like by giving an enemy rogue an aversion to searching for traps. What about times when the aversion doesn't put them in jeapordy, but instead might put others in jeapordy? Perhaps an aversion to telling people about a particular trap, or that one of the dishes at a meal was poisoned but the rest are good? Perhaps rule-out possibilities in a way that doesn't put them in obvious jeapordy, but simply makes your opponent's actions more predicatble? This is particularly the case if your opponent doesn't have the spellcraft/psicraft to know that they're under the effects of a compulsion. IE: Give an enemy leader an aversion to taking the northern path, and heavily trap/ambush the southern path. They don't realise the danger of the south path until it's too late, by which time you've picked-off a coupple of people. Maybe use it as a test? If your opponent takes the northern path in the above example, you can guess that they know taking southern path puts them in jeapordy. That mught tell you that you have an informant, although it's also possible the opponent's companions noticed the compulsion effect and had it suppressed/removed. Any more ideas?